Hi again! So question time. I’ve been pairing about everyone 4 weeks since late October. Proven female and unproven male. They’re both off feed and the female is staying coiled most of the time and is looking a bit large but not overly so, but I’ve yet to witness a lock. Quick poll, should I continue pairing until I get a pre-lay shed? Wish I could catch them in the act. There has been defecations a few times after pairing them.
If you pick up the female by the first third of her body, and let her midsection and tail drape down, you should see an asymmetrical swelling just beyond the midpoint of the snake. That swelling indicates that she’s actually building. It’s very easy to see if you keep your animals in a leaner body condition, but can be difficult to spot on obese animals.
She’s a little chunky! I’ll try seeing if I can snag a pic or two to upload of her this evening. Thank you!
I myself cannot tell from the pics. @ballornothing may be able to with his professional knowledge and experience, but I suspect she is either slightly too heavy overall to tell for sure, or just too hard to be 100% sure from the pics. I always continue pairing if I haven’t witnessed multiple locks or ovulation. It won’t hurt or stress the female in my opinion. Good luck though, hope you get some big nice eggs!
Sounds good thank you! Yeah she is quite a big girl. Next step will be to add another male for a few minutes to try and stimulate this first time boy. Thanks!
In my breedings I have noticed that although quite large and old enough, my males usually won’t try to lock or even seem interested unless they are 2 seasons old. I have had one breed before his second season but that is it for me. I think although size has a lot to do with it, maturity may play a hand as well!
I have linked this here a few times but this is a great pictoral of what to look for and the flow of breeding/building/ovulation/eggs. But honestly keep pairing until you see a def ovy or he is no longer intrested in her.
Any questions feel free to ask
Interesting! This guy is about 2.5 years old but it’s his first year being paired up. So yeah. We shall see! Thanks again. He’s a banana leopard but plan b would be pairing this girl to a pastel spotnose proven male.
Thanks for the link! I appreciate it. I’ve bred corns and I have eight ball pythons but it’s my first season breeding them after owning several and being a reptile owner for 6 years.
Wow! She is definitely a big beautiful girl!
Thank you! She’s 10 years old, proven. She’s a single gene Mojave but has incredible iridescence and was eating medium rats every week until she went off food. We love her! her name is Penny Dreadful!
Aaawwwww! It warms my heart to see pictures of loved, well cared for animals! Interesting name too!
Best wishes to you and your endeavors!
Thanks again, @caron ! Much appreciated